Anigozanthos hybrid plant named &#39;Regal Velvet&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘REGAL VELVET’ is a distinctive variety of  Anigozanthos hybrid  which is characterized by the combination of its medium plant height with an upright growth habit and a semi-erect leaf attitude, large number of flowers per inflorescence and a flower color consisting of yellow green colored perianth tube with a red colored ovary.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Anigozanthos hybrid.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The inventive variety of Anigozanthos disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘REGAL VELVET’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial variety of Anigozanthos hybrid, which has been given the variety denomination of ‘REGAL VELVET’. Its market class is that of an ornamental plant. ‘REGAL VELVET’ is intended for use in landscaping and as a decorative plant.

The Anigozanthos hybrid variety ‘REGAL VELVET’ was the result of a controlled pollination between seed parent un-named Anigozanthos manglesii and pollen parent un-named Anigozanthos flavidus in 2002 in an Australian nursery in the state of Western Australia. Seed were collected and germinated in vitro during 2003. Resultant plants were tested in 200 mm pots and in ground during 2003-2004. The inventive variety was finally selected in 2004 based on strong plant growth vigor and flowering traits.

‘REGAL VELVET’ is propagated asexually by micropropagation at a tissue culture laboratory in Tumbi Umbi in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The distinctive characteristics of the inventive ‘REGAL VELVET’ variety are stable from generation to generation; clones of the variety produced by asexual reproduction maintain the distinguishing characteristics of the original plant.

‘REGAL VELVET’ has a medium plant height including the inflorescence (range 90-120 cm) with an upright growth habit and a semi-erect leaf attitude whereas the seed parent has a short plant height (range 60-90 cm) and the pollen parent has a tall plant height (150-180 cm). ‘REGAL VELVET’ has a large number of flowers per inflorescence with the predominant color of the perianth tube being yellow-green whereas the seed parent has a green predominant perianth tube color and the pollen parent has a greenish to red (with age) predominant perianth tube. Time of flowering for ‘REGAL VELVET’ is spring whereas the seed parent is late winter to spring and the pollen parent is late spring to summer.

An application for plant breeders' rights for variety ‘REGAL VELVET’ has been lodged with the Australian Plant Breeders' Rights Office, and was first gazetted in February 2006 under Application No. 2006/012.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘REGAL VELVET’ is a distinctive variety of Anigozanthos hybrid which is characterized by the combination of its medium plant height with an upright growth habit and a semi-erect leaf attitude, large number of flowers per inflorescence and a flower color consisting of yellow green colored perianth tube with a red colored ovary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a ‘REGAL VELVET’ plant.

FIG. 2 shows a ‘REGAL VELVET’ plant foliage.

FIG. 3 shows a ‘REGAL VELVET’ inflorescence branching pattern.

FIG. 4 shows ‘REGAL VELVET’ flowers within the inflorescence.

FIG. 5 shows ‘REGAL VELVET’ flower outer perianth tube and ovary.

FIG. 6 shows ‘REGAL VELVET’ anther position detail.

FIG. 7 shows ‘REGAL VELVET’ anther position with respect to stigma.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinct variety of an Anigozanthos hybrid ornamental plant known as ‘REGAL VELVET’. Plant observations were made on plants, 6 months old, grown in New South Wales, Australia. Unless indicated otherwise, the descriptions disclosed herein are based upon observations made from October 2006 of mature ‘REGAL VELVET’ plants grown in nursery pots.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘REGAL VELVET’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may vary with variations in the environment such as season, temperature, light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 1995 edition. ‘REGAL VELVET’ is a perennial Anigozanthos hybrid plant which resulted from a controlled pollination between seed parent un-named Anigozanthos manglesii and pollen parent un-named Anigozanthos flavidus. After its selection, ‘REGAL VELVET’ was asexually propagated by micropropagation. ‘REGAL VELVET’ has a medium plant height including the inflorescence with an upright growth habit and a semi-erect leaf attitude, large number of flowers per inflorescence and a predominantly yellow green colored perianth tube with change to red color towards the ovary.

These features and other characteristics are apparent from the description provided below.

-   Growth habit, dimensions and color: ‘REGAL VELVET’ is a medium,     rhizomatous plant forming an upright fan shaped tuft. Average plant     height including the inflorescence is about 100 cm (range 90-120     cm), average height of foliage only is 40 cm (range 35-50 cm) and     average plant spread is 40 cm in a mature plant grown in nursery or     field plots in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (observed spring     2006). The number of inflorescences is medium. The mature leaf     length is medium (range 25-35 cm) and the mature leaf width is     medium (approximately 14-16 mm in a 140 mm pot). The leaf attitude     is semi-erect and the degree of leaf curvature is slightly curved to     straight. The upper and lower sides of the leaf are yellow green     (approximately RHS 147A) in color (observed spring 2006). Leaf     glaucosity is very weak. The degree of hairiness of the leaf margin     is absent to very weakly expressed. The leaf shape is     linear-slightly falcate, leaf base is cauline, leaf margin is     entire, leaf apex is acute and leaf surface texture is glabrous. The     leaf venation pattern is parallel; the color is the same as the rest     of the leaf. The leaf attitude is semi-erect. A representative     ‘REGAL VELVET’ plant is shown in FIG. 1. -   Roots: The roots of ‘REGAL VELVET’ are fibrous, freely branching and     white in color and are similar to other Anigozanthos hybrids. -   Rhizomes: The rhizomes of ‘REGAL VELVET’ are short creating a tufted     plant similar to other Anigozanthos hybrids. -   Inflorescence: Branching of the inflorescence is present and the     degree of ramification is secondary. The length of the lowest     lateral is short-medium (approximately 8 to 12 cm). The number of     flowers per inflorescence is medium, a typical plant having 2-3     racemes per inflorescence, each with about 9 flowers (longer than     3 mm) in a 140 mm pot size (observed spring 2006). Peduncle diameter     at the base is approximately 9 mm. The peduncle length averages 100     cm (range 90-110 cm), Color of peduncle is approximately yellow     green RHS 146B with pubescence approximately grayed purple 187A-B. -   Flowers: Bud shape is ovate to oval in longitudinal section and     round in cross section; bud length is 7-10 mm ; bud diameter is 5-6     mm ; bud apex is broadly acute; bud base is obtuse to rounded; bud     color is yellow green RHS 146C-D with dense pubescence approximating     to red RHS 46A. Pedicel length is 4-5 mm; pedicel diameter is     2.5-3.0 mm. The color of hairs on the pedicel corresponds to red     (approximately RHS 46A). Anigozanthos do not have petals. Instead     they have a perianth tube with lobes (length 11 mm, width 1.5-2.5     mm); lobe shape is deltoid; apex is acute, margin entire; The     perianth tube length is medium (range 32 to 50 mm) and the width is     medium (approximately 7 mm below perianth lobes) on an opening     flower. Perianth tube profile is broadening evenly. The predominant     color of the outer perianth tube is yellow green (approximately RHS     146C). The number of colors on hairs on the perianth tube is one and     this corresponds to red (approximately RHS 46A). The inner color of     the perianth tube is a yellow green (RHS 146C). The inner color of     the perianth tube lobes is a grayed green (RHS 191A-B); meaning that     the color falls somewhere in between the two colorations. Perianth     lobe length is medium (approximately 11 mm for the longest lobe).     Reflexing of the lobes is medium to strong. The number of anthers at     the top of the perianth is four. The color of the hairs on the ovary     corresponds to red (approximately RHS 46A). The position of the     stigma in relation to the anthers is level. Time to beginning of     flowering is early-medium. Pollen production is scarce; color     approximately yellow white RHS 159D. No fragrance observed. Floral     bract length: up to 7 cm. Width: About 6 mm at base. Shape: Ensiform     tapering to a narrow conduplicate form at the apex. Apex: narrow     acute. Base: Clasping. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface:     Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower surface: tomentose. Color, upper     surface: 137B. Color, lower surface: 137B. Reproductive organs:     stamen number is 6; anther shape is linear with occasional     curvature; anther length is approximately 4 mm; anther width is 0.7     to 1.0 mm ; anther color is approximately in the range 159C-D.     Pistil number is 1; pistil length is approximately 28-30 mm; style     length is 26-28 mm; style color is approximately yellow green RHS     144B. Stigma shape is trullate with stigma color yellow green RHS     144B. Ovary color is approximately yellow green RHS 144B. -   Comparison of ‘Regal Velvet’ with other varieties of Anigozanthos     hybrid: ‘REGAL VELVET’ combines a medium plant height with an     upright growth habit and a semi-erect leaf attitude, large number of     flowers per inflorescence and a predominantly yellow green colored     perianth tube with change to red color towards the ovary compared to     other Anigozanthos hybrids. ‘REGAL VELVET’ has a shorter plant     height including the inflorescence than another comparable type     known as ‘Big Red’ (unpatented) with a height of 90-120 cm whereas     ‘Big Red’ is 150-180 cm tall. ‘REGAL VELVET’ has a predominantly     medium yellow green perianth tube color due to a relatively low     density of red colored hairs present whereas ‘Big Red’ has a     predominantly red perianth tube color due to a much higher density     of red colored hairs. ‘REGAL VELVET’ has two predominant flower     colors created by the contrast between a yellow green perianth tube     and a red ovary where the red hairs are dense relative to the     perianth tube whereas ‘Big Red’ has a single red flower color due to     the higher density of red colored hairs over the perianth tube and     the ovary. ‘REGAL VELVET’ has a spring flowering season whereas ‘Big     Red’ has a spring to summer flowering season. The combination of     medium plant height with an upright growth habit and a semi-erect     leaf attitude, large number of flowers per inflorescence and a     predominantly yellow green colored perianth tube with change to red     color towards the ovary makes ‘REGAL VELVET’ a desirable ornamental     plant suited for mass production for pot and landscape use. -   Asexual reproduction: ‘REGAL VELVET’ was germinated as a seedling in     vitro and asexually reproduced by micropropagation. Several     generations have been reproduced and ‘REGAL VELVET’ has been     observed to retain all distinguishing characteristics that were     noted in the original ‘REGAL VELVET’ seedling. In vitro plants of     ‘REGAL VELVET’ initiate roots in 7 to 10 days. -   Environmental tolerances: ‘REGAL VELVET’ plants have exhibited good     tolerance to rain and wind and to tolerate temperatures from 1 to     about 40 degrees Celsius. ‘REGAL VELVET’ has moderate to good     drought tolerance. ‘REGAL VELVET’ has moderate to good recovery with     watering after severe wilting. ‘REGAL VELVET’ does well in sandy and     gravelly soils. -   Disease resistance: ‘REGAL VELVET’ has not been observed to be     resistant to other pathogens and pests common to Angiozanthos.     Further testing is underway. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Anigozanthos hybrid plant named ‘REGAL VELVET’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 